Charles Edwin Gafford

Pittman Funeral Home ~ Geneva

Viewed: 353

Posted by: ChadWhisnant
(334) 684-2600
Date: Jun 10 2024 10:24 AM

Charles Edwin Gafford went to his heavenly home on June 6, 2024 at the age of 92.   Born in Holmes County Florida to Grady Gafford and Ida Lee McDuffie Gafford, Charles was the 3rd of four children with 3 sisters.  Growing up on a farm, Charles learned hard work along with a love for mules and horses which he carried throughout his life.  Charles met his beloved wife, Martha Grice Gafford, in 1951 at a school beach trip.  They started dating seriously when he was in the Air Force, and stationed at Craig Air Force base in Selma, Alabama.   Charles received orders to go to Japan for two years where he served during the Korean War.  Upon his return to the United States, he married his sweetheart, Martha on January 1, 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama, and they began their life together.  After their marriage, Martha encouraged Charles to attend the Ridgecrest Baptist Church and he became a Christian in 1956. They moved to Mobile, Alabama where they started their family. In 1965, they moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida and raised three children, Lisa, Linda, and Stephen. 

After serving his country in the Air Force, Charles worked at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field through civil service as an aircraft welder and a model maker at the Airforce Armament Laboratory.  He retired after 34 years.

Charles had a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and he and Martha were active members of Cinco Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach.   They loved serving the Lord in their church and sharing their faith with others. Charles and Martha participated in many activities with the church senior adults, going on cruises and performing in dinner theater, Christmas programs, and the senior choir.  Charles served as a deacon and on the church building and grounds committee.

Charles enjoyed spending time with his family, including his children and his eight grandchildren.  He was a devoted grandfather, loved having cookouts in the backyard and celebrating fun times together. He enjoyed giving the grandchildren rides around the yard on the 4-wheeler named, “Big Red”.  Charles also enjoyed spending time in the outdoors hunting, riding horses or working his mule. He had many adventures such as riding a mule down the Grand Canyon and back with his son, Stephen. Charles loved to fix things around the house and always had a project.  At the age of 70, after a hurricane, he cut down 19 trees in his yard! He also constructed his own covered wagon and he and Martha went on several wagon train rides with friends up through Florida and Alabama.

Charles and Martha were devoted to each other. In their later years, Charles took care of Martha as she had Alzheimer’s disease.  He cared for her at home for 7 years and in the nursing home for the last 3 years.  He went out to see her every single day to feed her and see that she had the best of care. They were married for 57 years until Martha passed away in 2013.  

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lauryce Hobbs, his wife Martha, his son-in-law Richard Franszczak,Jr. and his grandson Daniel Franszczak.    Left to cherish his memory are his children, Lisa Gafford Franszczak, Linda Gafford (Gary Surdell) and Stephen Gafford (Shelli Gafford) as well as 7 living grandchildren- Matthew Franszczak, Joshua Franszczak, Andrew Tennenbaum, Jonathan Tennenbaum, Laura Tennenbaum, Nathan Gafford, and Haley Gafford, sisters Sue Cochran (Earl), Erress Kiser and numerous nieces and nephews..

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Cinco Baptist Church, 26 Yacht Club Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Friends may visit at the church on Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Interment will be in Black Cemetery in Black, Alabama with Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva, directing. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that all donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To offer condolences, please visit www.pittmanfuneral.com

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